Pro - Immigrant and - Refugee Movement Update - March 2019

Updated: May 7, 2019

Happy March. As I mentioned in my January Member Update, in 2019 I’ll be regularly sending out updates, and tips to NCRP members whose work falls under our Immigrant & Refugee Justice movement area. Our goal is to make sure NCRP nonprofit members are in the best position possible to understand and shape the philanthropic sector.

Here’s the latest:

1) RSVP for our Movement Investment Project Preview Call on April 4 from 2:00-3:15 pm ET. This call will be open to members and non-members alike working in domestic pro-immigrant and pro-refugee movements, so spread the word. No funders allowed. Even if you made the brainstorming session in February just for members, join us! We’ll have additional stats and updates about the Movement Investment Project, which launches on April 10.

2) I’ve got three leads on grant announcements. First is the Democracy Funders Collaborative Census Subgroup’s (can you say that three times fast?) Census Equity Fund, due April 8. Next, the NoVo Foundation’s Life Story Grant, due April 19; they’ve got an informational webinar next week on March 26. (This is a good funder in general to look into for movement funding, particularly for intersectional gender equity grantmaking). Finally, the J.M.K. Innovation Prize, due by April 30: check out their “social justice” track.

3) Breaking news: NCRP has signed on to the “Hate is Not Charitable Campaign,” led by Amalgamated Bank. Many of the biggest donor advised funds in the country do nothing to prevent money from going to white supremacist, anti-immigrant, and anti-LGBTQ hate groups. The campaign, whose press release you can read here, “calls for ‘donors of conscience’ to demand that their own donor advised providers adopt such policies.” Got an eye on foundations, donor advised funds, or donors supporting hate groups? Drop me a line. (In other news, Amalgamated Bank is also one of our new member benefits – check out the revamped www.myncrp.org to learn more.)

4) Have you heard? JP Morgan Chase & Company and Wells Fargo have announced they will no longer be investing in private prisons, including immigrant detention centers. Some of you have been involved in this very organizing. What’s your take – did the announcements go far enough? Is there more you’d like to see from bank-related philanthropy, or from foundations to screen their investments, for example? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

5) Finally, tell a friend – Ayanda Hand in Hand has launched. This quarterly, 3-month program is part of UndocuBlack’s Mental Wellness Initiative designed for currently and formerly undocumented Black people “to heal, organize, connect, and be empowered by each other.” Check out the FAQs to learn more.